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Game On Dude, a leading candidate to be named Horse of the Year, leads a field of 10 in Sunday's $1 million Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar (Post time: 5:05pm Pacific; TV: TVG). Despite a tough race in Dubai where he finished a well-beaten 12th in the World Cup, Game On Dude has turned in a perfect 2012 season. He began the year by winning the G2-San Antonio, followed by wins in the G2-Californian and G1-Hollywood Gold Cup after he returned from the U.A.E.
Dullahan, winner of the G1-Blue Grass Stakes and 3rd in this year's Kentucky Derby, ships out to Southern California and returns to a synthetic surface in the hopes of returning to form. After attempting to run on dirt this spring and summer, trainer Dale Romans has decided to put Dullahan on more familiar and successful ground. If Dullahan were to run well in the Pacific Classic, it may foreshadow a move to the grass as the Breeders' Cup approaches. It's possible that the connections would attempt to return to dirt, but at this point, Dullahan is a better colt on other surfaces.
Dullahan is the co-third choice on the morning line with Suggestive Boy (ARG) at 5/1.
Also among the additional Pacific Classic runners are:
- Richard's Kid, winner of the Cougar II at Del Mar on July 22nd and second in the G1-Hollywood Gold Cup.
- Rail Trip (back in the barn of Ron Ellis after a journey east to run for Richard Dutrow), winner of the G2-San Diego Handicap in his most recent race, his first win in a little over two years.
- Suggestive Boy - second in the G1-Shoemaker and winner of the Wickerr Stakes since shipping to the U.S. from Argentina.
Below are the entries, post positions and morning line odds for the G1-Pacific Classic.